Council candidates pick up endorsement of nonprofit

CARLSBAD — In an already crowded race, two challengers for city council have picked up an endorsement from an active and outspoken nonprofit. announced Monday it will support Cori Schumacher and Ann Tanner for the November election against incumbents Keith Blackburn and Lorraine Wood, along with fellow challengers Bill Fowler, Melanie Burkholder and Carl Flock.

Two of the five seats on the council are up in the at-large race.

Citizens For North County is a non-partisan, nonprofit group that spearheaded the opposition and led the way to an upset victory in February over a Los Angeles developer’s attempt to build a mall near the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

“We need independent voices on the council. That has become obvious to residents over the last several months,” said De’Ann Weimer, president of Citizens For North County. “Trust in our city council is shaken.

“But Carlsbad is fortunate to have two long-time community leaders committed to making sure Carlsbad values are reflected in our city government.

“Those values include the expectation that citizens’ concerns are respected, that our elected leaders make decisions with the best interest of Carlsbad’s citizens at heart, that transparency and fiscal responsibility are priorities and not exceptions.”

In 2010, Carlsbad residents elected Ann Tanner trustee of the Carlsbad Unified School District where she also served as board president. Additionally, she is known for her work with the Red Cross, particularly its Rapid Response team.

“Both Ms. Tanner and Ms. Schumacher are thoughtful and consistent advocates for preserving Carlsbad’s quality of life and its coastal character.

“They are dedicated to maintaining open space, and utilizing new technologies to ensure a vibrant, diversified economy.”

As an experienced elected official and a data-driven decision maker, Tanner has the ability to restore Carlsbad’s credibility while balancing development with environmental stewardship.

Most recently, Schumacher was instrumental in persuading the California Coastal Commission to take a closer look at Carlsbad’s effort to redefine land uses on some of the largest remaining coastal parcels in the city.

An advocate of strong local growth control measures, she has pushed successfully for greater public input on the village development plan.

“We believe Ms. Schumacher and Ms. Tanner can provide the leadership and vision Carlsbad needs to succeed for generations to come,” Weimer said. “Both were outspoken opponents of the proposed lagoon mall known as Measure A which was defeated in the special election.”